[Original written by ITO Tokiko and IMANAKA Ko for the project fundraised by READYFOR (October 30, 2023); Translated by J. Tsuchiya/K. Tanimoto and A. Taguchi] Once called “Happy Arabia”, Yemen used to be prosperous through trade. Situated in the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula, the country is now facing the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” This is due to the “forgotten war” that has continued for eight years since the aggravation of conflicts in 2015. Even children have been affected. •Two-thirds of the nation’s population, about 32 million people, are in need of some kind of support. •About 4.5 million are internally displaced persons (domestic refugees). •More than 2.7 million…
Women living through war in Sudan – A year since the outbreak of the vicious conflict in Sudan (1)
[Original by Ko IMANAKA, Sudan & Yemen Projects (March 14, 2024); Translated by K. Tanimoto/J. Tsuchiya, A. Taguchi] Greetings, this is Ko IMANAKA from the JVC Sudan Office. The war in Sudan is approaching its first anniversary since the civil war which started on April 15 last year. Even though Ramadan began, the war continued. As of February, according to reports from the UN and other resources, 13,900 people have been killed, 1.66 million fled to neighboring countries as refugees, and 6.32 million are said to be internally displaced. Approximately 24.8 million people, which is almost half of the nation’s population, are urgently in need of humanitarian assistance. International media…
Request from Japanese NGOs to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: We call for action to secure an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestine
[Original issued on October 11, 2023; Translated by A. Turner/K. Takemura] On 11th October, a group of four Japanese NGOs offering support to Palestine came together to deliver a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As of 10th October local time, more than 900 people in Israel and 900 in Gaza have perished, and casualties on both sides number in the thousands. No more lives can be lost. We call for the Japanese Government to make every diplomatic effort to encourage both parties to consider mediation. Request from Japanese NGOs To: Ms. Yōko Kamikawa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan The exchange of missiles between Palestine and Israel over…
Vegetable garden program in South Africa
[Original by Alicia TURNER, 2023 Public Relations Intern (June 29, 2023); Translated by A. Turner] Hi everyone! My name is Alicia and I’m an intern with JVC. This report will detail the vegetable garden program at the Drop-In Center in South Africa, which myself and my fellow intern, Moeka SANO, held an interview with Dudu, a local staff member at the JVC South Africa office, to hear the details of. Those who are interested can read the reports on the volunteer carer and guardian training sessions as well as the Scouts and Cubs programs, which will soon be published! About the Drop-In Center (DIC) JVC is partnered with the DIC,…
Residents Realize Successful Management and Use of Natural Resources
[Originally written by Miki GOTO and published in the JVC Newsletter “Trial & Error” (No. 353, April 20, 2023); Translated by Y. Miki/A. Turner] JVC’s Laos project relocated its base of activities from Savannakhet Province to Sekong Province in the southeastern part of the country last year. As rich natural resources are in danger of disappearing due to large-scale development and the cultivation of cash crops, we are engaged in activities that allow residents to manage and use these natural resources on their own. In February 2023, I made a business trip to Sekong, and would like to share with you some of their activities and the town around the…
Training programs for volunteer carers and parents in South Africa
[Original by Alicia TURNER, 2023 Public Relations Intern (July 13, 2023); Translated by A. Turner] My name is Alicia and I’m an intern with JVC. This report will detail the training programs offered to volunteer carers and parents of the children attending the Drop-In Center (DIC) in South Africa, which myself and my fellow intern, Moeka SANO, held an interview with Dudu, a local staff member at the JVC South Africa office, to hear the details of. About the Drop-In Center JVC is partnered with the DIC, a voluntary organisation based in Limpopo, South Africa, that was established with the aim to break the cycle of abuse and neglect present…
It has been one month since the outbreak of military combat in Sudan. What happened in Kadugli, the city in the southern part of Sudan?
[Original by Ko IMANAKA, Sudan & Yemen Projects (May 25, 2023); Translated by J. Tsuchiya/A. Taguchi] Kadugli, the capital city of South Kordofan State, which is JVC’s activity site, is about 600 km from Khartoum. It became the site of the bloodiest combat in the battle that broke out on April 15, 2023. It has then remained calm even after battlefields scattered over many places in Sudan. But even though there are no sounds of airstrikes and gunshots, it doesn’t mean there is no influence of conflict. How did it affect the people and what do they think about them? Effects of the war on Kadugli in the South Kordofan…
Along With the Turbulent Middle East- Backstage Stories at the launch of the JVC’s Palestine project –
[Original by Kakeru HORIYA, Mariko KIMURA, and Mizuho OSAWA published in note.com (September 30, 2022); Translated by J. Tsuchiya/F. Farina] 30 years have passed since JVC started supportive activities in Palestine in 1992. During this period, we have seen hopeful events toward peace such as the Oslo Accords (1993) and the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority (1994). However, the Al-Aqsa Intifada (2000)［1］resulted in increased tension again, leading to a lockdown in Gaza (2007) and repeated attacks on the Gaza Strip, and the situation has worsened. Therefore, we would like to tell you what kind of activities JVC was doing with what intentions in each period by recalling the situations…
Palestinian Women Living with Strength in a Strict Society
[Originally written by Mariko KIMURA, Mizuho OSAWA, and Ayat YAGHMOUR and published in the JVC Newsletter “Trial & Error” (No. 353, April 20, 2023); Translated by E. Miyazaki/E. Yocom] When we talk about Palestine, many people focus on the issue of its unjust occupation by Israel. On the other hand, inside Palestine, women’s rights to go out freely, work, and to go to school are severely restricted due to the male-dominated patriarchal system. However, under these circumstances, there are women who have stood up to promote women’s rights, economic empowerment, and social engagement. The harsh situation surrounding the Palestinian people It has been 75 years since Israel declared its founding…
We strongly oppose the Official Security Assistance (OSA), a military aid that denies Japan’s non-military principles in international cooperation
[Original issued by NGO No War Network (June 6, 2023); Translated by A. Turner/K. Takemura] On the 5th of April, the Japanese government announced the implementation of Official Security Assistance (OSA), a means of providing defense and military equipment to the armed forces of like-minded countries. Set out in the National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and Defense Build-Up Program (hereafter “Three Security Documents”) all released in December 2022, OSA represents a major shift in Japan’s international cooperation strategy. The NGO No War Network was founded in 2002 in opposition to the Iraq War. As civil society actors who are conducting international cooperation activities, we have since raised our voices…
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